Electrical time reminder for various purposes



May 15, 1951 R. 1.. SMITH 2,553,482

ELECTRICAL TIME REMINDER FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES Filed March 29, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 1 "LI'LI O o 'L O 0 v ;/--/4 /3 o O M W O o I Inveni/ rROZandL.cSmz/ih May 15, 1951 R. L. SMITH 2,553,482

ELECTRICAL TIME REMINDER FOR VARIOUS I URPOSES Filed March 29, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 2 I nveniiozm- ROZQRd/L. 6 M7235,

y 1951 R. L. SMITH 2,553,482

ELECTRICAL TIME REMINDER FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES Filed March 29, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 5 E l; a Inveni/o a' RoZand L. Sm2/%?z,

Patented May 15, 1951 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL IIMEREMINDER FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES Roland L. Smith, Belmont, Mass.

Application March 29, 1947, Serial No. 738,169

1 24 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical time reminders for variouspurposes.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood,I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the time remindermechanism and showing the face of a clock mechanism to which myinvention may be applied;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a gear-carrying plate inside the saidtime reminder mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the time reminder mechanism, the coverplate having been removed;

Fig. 4 is a view looking inward from the bottom of the said timereminder mechanism, the casing being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a detail in section on the irregular line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the irregular line 6-8 of Fig. l,but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6, and on thesame scale as Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail on the line 88 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuit employed.

The electric time reminder of my invention is provided with a scaleindicative of minutes or other divisions of time, and at any positionalong the scale a pointer is adapted to be manually set to indicate thedesired or predetermined number of minutes or other time divisions, atthe termination of which predetermined period of time, in accordancewith my invention, a rather low, not-unpleasant, non-metallic, clickingsound. begins to be continuously repeated at regular intervals,preferably of one second, which sound may, in accordance with myinvention, be modulated and/or be supplemented by an intermittentlydisplayed light, such as a tiny neon light, and which sound may then becaused to terminate, the light continuing to function intermittentlyuntil it is itself terminated by the user of the electrical timereminder, through manual movement of a suitable knob or the like.

The said scale may be arranged in any suitable form or shape, butdesirably and as herein shown it is circular in form and may be markedto indicate any desired total as, for example, substantially two hours.In the disclosed embodiment of the invention the scale begins with zeroand the marking continues about the circular scale which is hereinmarked for minutes up to sixty, extending through one-half the circularscale, and there recoinmencing at one and continuing up to fifty-five orthereabouts, thus totaling substantially two hours. If desired, theminutes may be marked continuously from one up to the end of the scale.

ill)

My invention is in no wise limited to the use thereof in connection witha clock face, but herein I have represented the circular scale asarranged about an ordinary face of an electrical time clock having hourand minute hands.

The purpose of my invention is to indicate to the user thereof that heor she, or some other person, is to do something or to cease to do something at the end of a predetermined time period. For that purpose thesignal, consisting of an intermittently repeated, rather low, clickingsound that may be modulated, or light, or both, begins to function atthe end of the predetermined time period for which the pointer has beenset and the signal continues to function until the user of theelectrical time reminder manually terminates the signal in a mannerhereinafter fully disclosed.

While the time reminder of my invention may be put to many differentuses, as, for example, in a kitchen as a reminder that some culinaryoperation is being performed, a very important use is that of indicatingthe complete passage of the time for which an interview has beenaccorded by a busy business man who, for example, had granted a callerten minutes for an interview; or my invention, when in use, constitutesa reminder to the user that he wished to make a telephone call at theend of a certain time period, or that he wished to leave his place ofbusiness at the end of the set time period, as, for example, to catch atrain or he himself to go to an appointment elsewhere. A further use isto indicate to a public speaker the expiration of the predetermined timefor which he or she is to speak. It is unnecessary to indicate the manydesirable uses to which the invention may be put.

The clock mechanism itself, excepting for the features of my invention,may be of any suitable character and construction, and need not beherein particularly described. It is adapted to be operated by beingplugged into a source of alternating current. The time mechanism, ashereinafter described in sufficient detail, controls, when the inventionis in operation, a vibratory or to-and-fro moving member which at theend of the predetermined time period causes a rather low,not-unpleasant, non-metallic, clicking sound that is continuouslyrepeated at regular intervals of preferably one second, until terminatedby a manual act of the user. The clicking sound begins very faintly andafter a few vibratory or to-and-fro movements, as, for example, two tofour such movements, the said sound reaches its maximum, but it may, ashereinafter explained, be modulated or modified while in action. Suchsound begins automatically at the termination of the predetermined timeperiod. By the movement of a manually controlled member, to behereinafter fully described,

such sound becomes supplemented, if desired, by a preferably small neonlight which is displayed intermittently, as, for example, each second.If the controlling member be further manually moved, the said soundsignal ceases and is entirely replaced by the intermittently displayedlight. The user of the device may entirely ter minate the signal hereinby moving the clock controlling knob.

My invention contemplates and includes the provision of means forcausing the said intermittent clicking sound which I have describedand/or causing the said light to function intermittently throughout theentire designated period. The sound is produced by a vibratory orto-and-fro moving member which every second or at any other timeinterval, for which the time reminder may be organized or designed,strikes against a wall of the clock mechanism casing or other soundproducing part and which is preferably the bottom wall of the clockcasing.

In order to produce a sound of the described nature or character, thecasing of the clock mechanism or at least the wall thereof that is to bestruck by the tapper or movable arm or vibratory member, is desirablymade of wood or of some plastic material such as Bakelite, and saidwall, if it be the bottom wall of the clock mechanism casing, ispreferably provided with outwardly extending cleat-like strips orformations to support the clock mechanism casing slightly above the deskor other piece of furniture upon which the clock mechanism casingstands, thus creating a small sounding board against which the tappermember strikes.

Heretofore a clock mechanism has been provided with alarm means to ringa bell once or repeatedly at the termination of some time period or tosound a buzzer, but such alarm clock devices are not suited to thepurpose of my invention, partly because of the unpleasant character ofthe sound and because the sound cannot be modulated, and cannot besupplemented or replaced by a light. My invention, on the contrary,provides a not-unpleasant clicking sound that may be modulated and whichmay be supplemented or replaced by a light. My invention is contrastedwith all previous devices of which I have knowledge by the provision ofmeans for creating the described non-metallic, clicking, modulatablesound and/or the intermittently displayed light which may be a neonlight not requiring more than one-quarter watt.

In the preferred use of my invention a knob is used to set the clockmechanism and to set the parts for the beginning of the signal at theend of the predetermined time limit, and a lever is provided, that ismoved by the user, to cause the signal to change from the intermittentclicking sound to the intermittent light, and also to modulate theclicking sound. I may within the scope of my invention provide means toterminate the signal. manually, but at the same time causing anindication of the time that is elapsing after the signal ceases tofunction, so that the user of the invention may keep track of the timeelapsin after the signal ceases. For this purpose another scale may beprovided with the minute indications reversely marked thereon, so thatthe passage of time may be noted.

The time reminder of my invention need not, for all purposes of myinvention, be electrically operated, as a spring motor mechanism may beprovided for creating the sound signals, but an electric mechainsm ispreferred.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein one selectedembodiment only of the invention is represented, and to which embodimentmy invention is in no wise limited, the casing of a clock mechanism isrepresented at I in the several figures, particularly Figs. 1 and 3 to6.

In order to provide the proper sounding board effect, at least a portionof the casing, herein the bottom wall or surface, as will be moreparticularly referred to, is composed of non-metallic material, such asplastic material or wood. Upon the front face of the clock casing, shownin Fig. 1, is provided a scale or dial 2 which, while it may be locatedas desired and may be of any suitable form and extent, is herein shownas circular and surrounds a clock face 3 having hands, such as hour andminute hands 4 and 5, as usual. The clock mechanism, which is preferablyelectrical, is represented generally at B in Fig. 3, and need not beparticularly described otherwise than to state that it is provided witha suitable electric motor operated through an electric current obtainedby plugging in the wiring 1 to a suitable source of current, preferablyalternating.

The said clock mechanism, as best shown in i the enlarged view, Fig. 6,is provided with a shaft 8 constantly driven when the current is on andhaving fast thereon a ratchet 9 by which a to-and fro motion at asuitable speed is im- 1 parted by the teeth of said ratchet to a memberill herein shown as a lever pivoted at H in the casing, and by theto-and-fro or vibratory movement of which the clicking sound isproduced, and also the intermittently operated neon or other light iscaused to function.

Suitably mounted within the clock casing i back of the clock casin 3 ismounted a plate l2, shown separately in Fig. 2, having a ring gear l2rotatably mounted thereon, as shown also in Fig. 7 upon an enlargedscale. Upon the upper face of said ring gear, as best shown in Fig. 2,is fast a pointer l3a, and upon the opposite face of said ring gear andin proper arcuately-spaced relation to the said pointer [3a, is fast apreferably roll-like lug or projection M which initiates the movement ofthe parts to cause a clickin sound. In the disclosed embodiment of theinvention, the pointer l3a and the roll-like lug or projection I4 arespaced 120 apart, so that when the pointer l2a is set at zero, the saidlug or projection I4 is directly under six oclock of the clock face, andwhen the pointer Ilia is set at ten minutes along the scale 2, as inFigs. 1 and 2, the lug or projection 54 is at seven oclock of the clockface.

In Fig. 1, the pointer has, as just stated, been set at ten minutes andwhen the parts are in operation the gear 53 travels contraclockwise,viewing Figs. 1 and 2, toward the zero mark, and when the said pointerl3a reaches the zero mark, the said lug or projection M will at the sametime reach a dog or equivalent member, to be subsequently referred to,and will move such dog so as to initiate the movement of the parts bywhich the clicking sound signal is caused.

In order to turn manually the gear I3 to set the pointer 53a at thedesired position alon the scale 2 to position the lug or projection Hiso that when the pointer has reached the zero mark, the said lug orprojection 14 will move the said dog, the clock mechanism is provided,as best shown in Fig. 7, with a suitably mounted shaft V5 to which botha rotary movement and an axial movement may be imparted by the knob I6.Upon the shaft i5 is fast a pinion Ii, shown in Fig. 7, as meshing withthe ring gear l3, By turning the knob the ring gear it! is turned so asto position the pointer 13a at the number of minutes constituting thepredetermined period time and also so as to space the lug or projectionit the proper dis-- tance from the said dog which will be actuated bythe lug or projection it when the pointer arrives at the zero mark.

In order that the shaft l5 may be turned manually without interferingwith or disturbing the clock mechanism, there is provided upon the saidshaft is a wide gear Ha that meshes with the proper gear lib of theclock mechanism, and is also provided with. a properly mounted slipclutch member lic, the gear lid and the clutch member He, beingyieldingly held in driving relation with each other by a coil springl'ld.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the scale 2 is, in the presentembodiment of the invention, shown as hearing numerals extending fromzero, indicated at it in Fig. 1, to the notation 1 hour" marked at apoint diametrically opposite to the zero notation. At the notation 1hour the numerals are shown as beginning again at i and as continuing tothe zero mark, or they may terminate short thereof. Each of the smallmarks upon the scale 2 indicates one minute, in the disclosed embodimentof the invention, and in Fig. 2. where the lug or projection it is shownin dotted lines because located at the under side of the gear it, it tobe understood that the rin gear is has been turned to such extent as toestablish a predetermined time limit of ten minutes, at the expirationof which reriod the clicking sound will begin because the lug orprciection 55. will have reached the dog, which is indicated at l andwill move it to cause or permit the starting of the sound signal.Obviously any predetermined time limit may be set.

if, 6 and 7 ind cate what may be termed the onerating pos ion of thereminder, by which is meant that the lug or projection d has rocked thedog it! upon its pivot, so as to YIQKHIlt the lever iii to begin itsto-and-fro movement to cause a clicking sound. In the disclosedembodiment of the invention, the movement of the lever ii! is an up anddown move ment, the upward movement being relatively slow along the faceof a tooth of the ratchet the down movement being relatively quic i.when dropping off the tooth.

It is to be understood that there are three possible positions of thelever 5 namely, the ooerating position, shown in Figs. 6 and 7; (2) thelocked position. when the clock mechmay be operating merely a clock andnot as a time reminder, in which position the lever id is held in lockedposition by a cone-like memher, to be described; and (3) a position ofthe lever it when the pointer [361 has just been set to indicate thelength of the predetermined t me period, in which position the tail ofthe dog 53 engages a part of the lever iii, to be referred to.

In the operating position of the parts, as shown in Figs. 6 and 'Z, thelug or projection is upon the inner face of the ring gear 43 has justcome into contact with the said pivoted dog :53, best shown in Figs. 6and 7, which dog, until it is struck by the said lug or projection M, isheld by a spring arm 29 in contact with the 2d of the lever it which itdoes in the third position just above referred to.

There will be described the means emplayed, in the present embodiment ofthe invention, to lock and to unlock the lever It.

Referring more particularly to Fig. '7, the shaft i5 with its knob it,when pushed axially inward by the user of the time reminder, causes it.inner end ill to engage an arm 22 of a lever p oted at 23 upon or withinthe clock casing I.

lever a second arm 2% under and connecte to which is a spring engagingat its o her a wall the clock casing I. The lever bears against theinner end of a short shaft 22 upon which is fast a cone-like formation2? having at the base thereof an annular 22. The said cone 2?, whichconstitutes Looking member for the lever i5, is received within, anopening or recess of the said lever when the are positioned as shown inE, the lever i has been unlocked. by the novement the cone i into theposition there Thus the said lever is has been unlocked now permitted tofunction, that is, to its wand-fro or back-and-forth moven'ient when, atthe @Xjl'lilfilOl'l of the predeter- -e limit for which the timereminder set, the lug or projection M on the engages moves the dog It,so

that the thereof is disengaged from the 2 of the 1 al iii, as shown inFig. 6.

he looked of le v iii is restored by moving axially inward, viewing Fig.'7, the shaft i5, by the user or" the time reminder who, for thispurpose, presses inward upon the knob it. When the lil'lC-b it is thuspushed inward the lever 22, 2d moves the cone :2? downward, viewi- Fig.so that the annular flange 28 of the cone 2? passes ti 'ough the openingor recess of the lever iii anby the engagement of the cone iii with theunder face of said lever iii, tl e said lever locked and thereby istermihated any further signalling either through the action of thestriking hammer upon the clock l or through the action of the small neonlight, to be subsequently described.

Rel rring again to the operating position of the parts shown in 5 7,wherein the lug or projection engages the dog 53 and moves its tail outof engagement with the end to of the lever it. it will be understoodthat the now-released lever H3 is an er the control of and will be movedto-andofro (herein up-and-down) by the constantly rotating ratchet 9whenever a tooth of such ratchet from under he projection arm 3-9 of thesaid lever iii and permits said lever iii and the parts connectedthereto to move or drop qui y so to make th first sound char acteristicof the clicking sounc signal.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the lever iii adjacent its pivot ii is for dindicated at 39a, 39b, to receive a projecti n of a striker arin 3ishaped as best shown in 8, '7 and 8. Thus all movements of the lever isare imparted to the striker arm 3 i.

said striker provided with a hammer portion and, closely adjacentthereto, with a pad-like elongated member 32 which is desirably providedwith an outer face composed of felt or leather or some other material toabsorb or soften sound. The said hammer 32 is positioned close to a wallof the casing I, and desirably close to the bottom wall 33a. of thecasing l, as best shown in Fig. '3. As there indicated, the outside ofsaid bottom wall 33a of the casing l is provided with strips or othersuitable formations 33b, 33c, to elevate the bottom of the clock casingl slightly above the desk or table upon which the apparatus issupported. In this manner a sounding board effect is produced. In orderthat the sound may be a non-metallic one the wall 33a is desirablyformed of wood or some suitable plastic material.

The action of the ratchet 9 upon the lever ill, when the said lever hasbeen unlocked and has assumed the operating position shown in Fig. 6, issuch that the first few to-and fro movements of the lever 40 impart arelatively faint clicking sound, which sound, however, becomes almostinstantly of full strength, and such clicking sound continues of fullstrength unless and until the user or" the time reminder brings intoaction the means for modulating the sound and, if desired, supplementingand then replacing it by the light signal previously referred to, andwhich will now be described.

The said light signal emanates from a small bulb indicated in Figs. 1and 3 at 34, as at the top of the casing i. Such light 3 may instead bepositioned at one side of the casing l, and is so indicated in Figs. 1,3 and 4. It is also shown in the diagrammatic view Fig. 9.

A lever intended to be manually operated by the user of the timereminder is indicated at 35 in Figs. 3 and 5. It is pivoted at 35 in thecasing and has an arm 3'! extending out through the slot or opening 38in a side wall of the clock casing I, so as to be moved downwardlyviewing Fig. 5, to modulate the clicking sound and, it removed farenough, to cause the neon light to function.

Viewing particularly Fig. 8, it will be noted that the pad face member"53 has a curved or inclined form or position and is so located thatwhen the lever arm 3'! is moved toward the dotted line position shown inFig. 5, the said pad face member 33 touches at first lightly and then,if the lever arm 31 is moved further down, more strongly upon the uppermember or" a pair of contacts Mi, 3! formed upon or carried by orconstituting the inner arm of the leve 35, as best shown in Fig. 3.Because of the said inclined form or position of the pad face member 33,it will be evident that as the lever 3'1, Fig. 5, moves further downwardfrom the position shown in Fig. 8, it will engage more strongly with theoverlying contact Ad and press it against contact 2!, thereb closing thecircuit shown in Fig. 9 and lighting the neon lamp 34, and, if themovement of the lever arm 31 downward is continued further, more andmore of the force of the hammer 32 will be absorbed by the pad facemember 33 and the clicking sound will become more and more modulated or,if desired, entirely eliminated.

When the lever 35 is positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, theclicking sound only occurs. and such sound is at its maximum. As thelever arm 3'! is moved slightly downward, the clicking sound becomesmodulated because of the engagement of the inner end of the lever 35 bythe pad face member 33 and for a period of time, depending upon the willof the user of the time reminder, both the clicking sound and the lightwill be respectively heard and seen. Further downward movement of thelever arm 3''! causes the clicking sound to cease, but the light signalcontinues to function intermittently under the action of the movinglever it, until the knob it is pushed inwardly to stop the signallingaction.

There is preferably provided a spring indicated at #52 in Fig. 'l torestore the parts to a ready-tofunction position so far as the soundsignal and the light signal are concerned.

I have referred to several important uses of the invention. Other useswill occur to the users or" the time reminder. In addition to thosealready mentioned, it will be evident that a very desirable use is inconnection with radio broad.- casting either from a studio or otherplace. It is, of course, important that all radio programs begin and endprecisely at the proper minute or fraction of a minute. With the timereminder herein disclosed, it is possible without making any sound thatcould be heard by anyone listening in on the program, to indicate by theneon light when a program or some part of a program is to begin or is toend.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, but a single light 3s needbe employed. Such light may be placed at any suitable part of the casingi In Fig. as hereinbefore stated, the light 34 is shown as mounted atone side of the casing I In Figs. 1 and 3, however, there is indicated alight 3:. both at the top and at the side of the casing. It is notnecessary, however, that both said lights be connected up to the wiringcircuit, but either light may be so connected. The p erable position ofthe connected-up neon light 3 3 is at the top of the casing l, but myinvention is in no wise limited to such location.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, itis to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

I claim: 7

l. A short-period time-reminder for various purposes attached to a smallclock mechanism unit having usual operating means, and comprisingmechanism applied to said clock unit and supplementary thereto andcarried and driven thereby, and including a dial marked with brief timedivisions totalling a small part only of the twelve-hour period shown bythe clock face and including also an indicator to travel along saiddial, said mechanism cooperating with the clock mechanism unit andhaving means for manually setting said indicator along said dial at anytime including the manually set time period, regardless of the actualtime indicated by the clock mechanism, thereby to establish apredetermined total time period of short time length, the passing ofwhich total, brief, set-time period is indicated by the progressivetravel of said indicator along said dial, and means to cause, beginningat the termination of such short set-time period, an intermittentlyrepeated clicking sound signal markedly distinguished in character froman alarm-clock, metallic, bell-ringing sound and from a buzzer sound,and constituting a low sounding, non-disturbing, time reminder that thetotal set-time period has elapsed.

2. An electric time reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinadjacent to said clock mechanism there is provided a non-metallicsoundingboard wall, and wherein the means to cause the said time signalincludes a to-and-fro movable hammer member that is caused by the clockmechanism to strike repeatedly against said sounding board to producesaid sound signal.

3. An electric time reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinadjacent to said clock anism there is provided a non-metallicsoundingboard wall, and wherein the means to cause the said time signalincludes a to-ancl-iro movable hammer member that is caused by the clockmechanism to strike repeatedly against said sounding board to producesaid sound signal, and manually controlled means to stop the movement ofsaid to-and-iro movable member at the will of the user of the said timereminder.

4. An electrical time reminder for various purposes in accordance withclaim 1, but wherein the means to produce the said sound signalcomprises a casing for said clock mechanism having at least a portion ofsaid casing formed of non-metallic material and a movable member havinga hammer positioned close to said nonmetallic material, so that in themovement of said member it strikes said non-metallic material and causesthe said clicking or snapping sound signal.

5. An electrical time reminder for various purposes in accordance withclaim l, but wherein the means to produce the said sound signalcomprises a casing for said clock mechanism, the bottom wall whereof iscomposed of plastic material and has externally protruding formations tosupport the said bottom wall slightly above the supporting surface forthe clock mechanism, and g a member pivotally mounted in said casingabove and relatively close to said bottom wall or said casing and havinga hammer, and means operated by the clock mechanism to cause said memberto move up and down at regular intervals, thereby causing said hammer tostrike said bottom wall at repeated, relatively short intervals, therebyproducing said sound signal.

6. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinthe said dial is positioned concentrically with the usual hour indications on the face of the clock unit.

7. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinmeans is provided to modulate said sound signal after it has com mencedto sound.

8. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinmeans is provided to cause an intermittently repeated flashing lightsignal following the termination of said manuallyset short-length timeperiod.

9. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinmeans is provided to supplement said clicking sound signal with anintermittently-repeated fiashing light signal.

10. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinmeans is provided to supplement said signal by an intermittently-repeated, relatively-weak, neon-light sig-- nal, and whereinmeans is provided to terminate said manually-set sound signal whilepermitting said light signal to continue to function.

11. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinmeans is provided manually to terminate at the will of the user saidsound signal at any time after it has commenced.

12. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinthe said dial is positioned outside of and concentrically with the usualhour indications on the face of the clock unit and is marked with minuteindications totalling about one hundred and twenty (two hours)encircling the said usual hour indications.

13. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 3, but whereinthe said dial is positioned outside of and concentrically with the usualhour indications on the face of the clock unit and is marked with minuteindications totalling about one hundred and twenty (two hours)encircling the said usual hour indications, and wherein means isprovided permitting the user to shift at will from one of said signalsto the other said signal following the termination of theprodeterminedly-set short-time period.

14. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinthe said dial is positioned concentric with the usual hour indicationson the face of the clock unit and is marked to indicate zero, andwherein said indicator in operation travels in contraclockwise directionalong said minute markings from its set position to said zero marking.

15. A short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim 1, but whereinthe said dial is positioned outside of and concentrically with the usualhour indications on the face of the clock unit and is marked in asubstantially complete circle with minute indications totalling abouttwo hours and along which the indicator travels in a contraclockwisedirection after being set at any desired point along said minutemarkings.

16. An electrical time reminder including an electrically operated clockmechanism, a scale upon said time reminder marked for divisions of time,a pointer adapted to be set along said scale to indicate the expirationof any predetermined period of time, a member adapted to be operativelyconnected to said clock mechanism and, when so connected, to be moved attime intervals along said scale with said pointer, means under themanual control of the operator to place said member under the control ofsaid clock mechanism, means to cause the functioning upon the expirationof said predetermined period of time of a sound signal repeated atrelatively short intervals and also a small electric light signalrepeated at relatively short intervals, and means under the manualcontrol of the user of the time reminder to cause the gradual diminutionof loudness of said sound signal and simultaneously with such diminutionof the sound signal to cause said signal to function intermittently.

1'7. An electrical time reminder including an electrically operatedclock mechanism, a scale upon said time reminder marked for divisions oftime, a pointer adapted to be set along said scale to indicate theexpiration of any predetermined period of time, a member adapted to beoperatively connected to said clock mechanism and, when so connected, tobe moved at time intervals along said scale with said pointer, meansunder the manual control of the operator to place said member under thecontrol of said clock mechanism, means caused to function upon theexpiration of said predetermined period of time to make anintermittently repeated clicking sound signal, and means under themanual control of the user of the time reminder to cause theintermittent flashing of a small electric light signal at shortintervals, the means to cause the sound signal and the light signalincluding a lever carrying a striker for causing the sound signal uponstriking .a sounding surface; said lever having a member to close acircuit to the said electric light signal.

18. An electrical time reminder including an electrically operated clockmechanism, a scale upon said time reminder marked for divisions of time,a pointer adapted to be set along said scale to indicate the expirationof any predetermined period of time, a member adapted to be operativelyconnected to said clock mechanism and, when so connected, to be moved attime intervals along said scale with said pointer, means under themanual control of the operator to place said member under the control ofsaid clock mechanism, means caused to function upon the expiration ofsaid predetermined period of time to make an intermittently repeatedclicking sound signal, and means under the manual control of the user ofthe time reminder to cause the intermittent flashing of a small electriclight signal at short intervals, the means to cause the sound signal andthe light signal including circuit wiring extending to said electriclight, and also including a lever carrying a striker to cause said soundsignal upon striking a sounding surface and also carrying a circuitclosing member to close the circuit to said electric light.

19. An electrical time reminder including an electrically operated clockmechanism, a scale upon said time reminder marked for divisions of time,a pointer adapted to be set along said scale to indicate the expirationof any predetermined period of time, a member adapted to beoperativelyconnected to said clock mechanism and, when so connected, to be moved attime intervals along said scale with said pointer, means under themanual control of the operator to place said member under the control ofsaid clock mechanism, means caused to function upon the expiration ofsaid predetermined period of time to make an intermittently repeatedclicking sound signal, and means under the manual control of the user ofthe time reminder to cause the intermittent flashing of a small electriclight signal at short intervals, the means to cause the sound signal andthe light signal including circuit wiring extending to said electriclight, and also including a lever carrying a striker to cause said soundsignal upon striking a sounding surface and also carrying a circuitclosing member to close the circuit to said electric light, a pair ofcontacts included in said circuit wiring, and means under the manualcontrol of the operator to move said pair of contacts, while slightlyopen, into the path of movement of said circuit closing member.

20. An electrical time reminder including an electrically operated clockmechanism, a scale upon said time reminder marked for divisions of time,a pointer adapted to be set along said scale to indicate the expirationof any predetermined period of time, a member adapted to be operativelyconnected to said clock mechanism and, when so connected, to be moved attime intervals along said scale with said pointer, means under themanual control of the operator to place said member under the control ofsaid clock mechanism, means caused to function upon the expiration ofsaid predetermined period of time to make an intermittently repeatedclicking sound signal, and means under the manual control of the user ofthe time reminder to cause the intermittent flashing of a small electriclight signal at short intervals, the means to cause the sound signal andthe light signal including circuit wiring extending to said electriclight, and also including a lever carrying a striker to cause said soundsignal upon striking a sounding surface and also carrying a circuitclosing member to close the circuit to said electric light, a pair ofcontacts included in said circuit wiring, and means under the manualcontrol of the operator to move said pair of contacts, while slightlyopen,

into the path of movement of said circuit closing member, said meansunder the manual control of the operator including a lever having an armextending outwardly into position to be moved by the user of the timereminder and also having an arm carrying said two slightly spacedcontacts in circuit with said electric light, and which contacts, uponmanual movement of said lever are moved into or out of the range ofmovement of said circuit closing member of the said lever carrying thestriker.

21. A short-period time-reminder clock mechanism unit that is containedin a small casing that may be moved about from place to place as uponthe top of a desk or table and plugged into a convenient circuit, saidtime reminder including a scale concentric with the usual hour markingsof the electrically operated clock mechanism to which it is attached,said scale being marked for minute divisions of time totalling at leastsubstantially one hour, a pointer adapted to be set along said scale toindicate the expiration of any predetermined number of minutes marked onsaid scale, a member adapted to be operatively connected to said clockmechanism and, when so connected, to be moved to minute intervals alongsaid scale with said pointer to indicate the pass ing of thepredetermined number of minutes on said scale, means under the manualcontrol of the operator to place said member under the control of saidclock mechanism and to remove it from such control, and means caused tofunction upon the expiration of said predetermined number of minutes tomake an intermittently-repeated clicking sound signal, markedlycontrasting in character from an alarm clock, metallic, bell-ringingsound and from a buzzer sound, and from a radio program, andconstituting a low sounding, non-disturbing, time reminder that thetotal set-time period has elapsed.

22. An electrical short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim21, but wherein means is provided under the manual control of the userto modulate said clicking sound signal.

23. An electrical short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim21, but wherein means is provided under the manual control of the userto cause the intermittent flashing of a small electric light signal atshort intervals upon the termination of the predetermined number ofminutes for which the time reminder has been set.

24. An electrical short-period time-reminder in accordance with claim21, but wherein means is provided under the manual control of the userto cause the intermittent flashing of a small electric light signal atshort intervals upon the termination of the predetermined number ofminutes for which the time reminder has been set, and wherein means isprovided under the manual control of the time-reminder to shift from oneoi said signals to the other at the end of the predetermined number ofminutes marked on the said scale.

ROLAND L. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bohman June 10, 1947

